Flush-tank valve of the diaphragm type.



G. H. ZWERMANN. FLUSH TANK VALVE OF THE DIAPHRAGM TYPE.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 25, 1914. 1,117,617, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l THE NORRIS PErERs c0, PHOTO-Little. wAsnlNcroN. 0. c.

O. H. ZWERMANN.

FLUSH TANK VALVE OF THE DIAPHRAGM TYPE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1914.

1,117,617, Patented N0v.17,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTD-LITHOY, WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITEI) S'IAtllhlhl PATEN '1 UFFICE.

CARL H. ZWERMANN, F KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

FLUSH-TANK VALVE 013' THE DIAPHRAGM TYPE.

Application filed June 25, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL H. ZwnimANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush- .Iank Valves of the Diaphragm Type, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flush tank valves of the diaphragm type.

The object of this invention is to provide a flush tank valve or the diaphragm type having improved siphonic controlling means.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies oi? construction and operation will definitely appear from the de tailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

Structures which are preferred embodiments of my invention are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is an elevation of my improved flush tank valve shown in connection with a flush tank, part of which is broken away for convenience in illustration. Fig. II is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the valve structure. Fig. III is a transverse sectional view on the line of FigII. Fig. IV is a transverse sectional View on a reduced scale taken on a line corresponding to line 11 of Fig. II. Fig. V is a view in side elevation of a modified form of. my valve structure. Fig. VI is a trans verse sectional view on the line G-(5 of Fig.

V. Fi VII is a View in side elevation of a still further modified form of my valve structure. Fig. VIII is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. VII. Fig. IX is a view in side elevation of a further modification of my valve structure. Fig. X is a transverse sectional view on the line 1()10 of Fig. IX.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, 1 is the outer flush tank casing which is provided with a top 2 and in which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 191 1.

Serial No. 847,299.

the inner casing 3 is supported. 4 is the supply valve which is controlled by the float 5, all in the usual or any desired form.

Disposed in a suitable opening in the bottom of the tank is the outlet connection (5 provided with the valve seat 7 at its upper end. This outlet connection is provided with a number of radiating arms 8 carryng a ring 9 to which the dome-shaped cas- 'mg 10 is secured by means of the screws 11 passing through the annular flange 10 at its periphery.

152 is a diaphragm of sheepskin or other pliable material which is clamped at its periphery between ring 5) and the annular flange 10 by means of the screws 11v which hold these parts together. The metallic disks 18 and 141 are provided above and be low said diaphragm and a rod 15 passes through suitable openings provided in said disks and said diaphragm, said rod 15 being provided with suitably threaded portions upon which the nuts 16 are threaded so to clamp the metallic disks 13 and 14; securely in place against the diaphragm 12. The disk 13 is slightly larger than the disk 14- and is about the diameter of valve seat 7 so that it aids in holding the diaphragm 12 in its place upon the valve seat 7.

The rod 15 extends upwardly through the top of the casing 10, extending through a suitable restricted opening 17 provided for that purpose, the opening 17 being slightly larger than the rod 15 so as to allow the ingress of water therethrough. The upper end of the rod 15 is connected by the link 18 to the end oi. the lever 19 which (is connected to the actuating handle 20 so that when the latter is actuated the rod 15 will be lifted. The diaphragu'l l2 and the domeshaped casing 10 together constiti'lte a chamber the lower movable wall of which is constituted by said diaphragm. \Vater is admitted to said chamber through the restricted opening 17 provided for the passage of the rod 15. A hollow arm 23 extends from the outlet connection (3 and said arm 23 has a discharge passage therein opening into the connection 6 just below the valve seat. An overflow pipe 22 has its lower end threaded into a threaded socket provided in the upper end of the arm 23, as clearly shown in Fig. II. The upper end of said overflow pipe is open and the tip 21 of the refill pipe extends into the top of said overflow pipe to permit the passage of water down through the overtlow pipe and the arm to till the bowl beneath.

A U-shaped siphon member 21 has one leg thereof communicating with the top of the chamber formed by the casing 10 and the diaphragm valve 12, said siphon extending upwardly and passing through the side wall of the overflow pipe 22, with the discharge leg extending downwardly within said overflow pipe 22 and terminating at a point adj acent the bottom thereof, and below the end of the other leg of said siphon.

In Figs. V and VI, I have shown a modilied construction which is identical with that shown in Figs. I to IV, inclusive, except that tie siphon 21 which enters the top of the dome-shaped casing 10 extends upwardly above the end of the overflow pipe 22 and the discharge leg of said siphon extends downwardly inside the overflow pipe 22. In other respects this valve is constructed exactly the same as that shown in Figs. I to IV.

In Figs. VII and VIII, I have shown a still further modified form of my valve in which the overflow pipe 22 is omitted. In this form the short length of tube is threaded into the end of arm 23, as clearly shown in Fig. VII, and this length of pi 26 is connected with the discharge leg t the siphon 21 by means of a right and left hand screw threaded coupling 25. The intake leg of the siphon is connected with the top of the casing 10 in the same manner as in the other form of my device. The right and left hand screw threadedcoupling 25 is to aid in assembling the parts, and after they are once assembled in the proper relation the joints are soldered so as to make them perfectly water tight.

In Figs. IX and X, I have shown a still further modified form of my valves which is adapted for automatic operation only, and in this form the rod 15 is omitted. The discharge leg of the siphon 21 communicates with the discharge passage in the arm 23 while the intake leg of the siphon extends into the chamber formed by the casing 10 and the diaphragm 12 through the hole 17 which is slightly larger than the siphon tube so as to permit the ingress of water through said opening. In other respects this valve is constructed as in the other forms of my device.

From the description of the parts given above, the operation of my structure should be very readily understood. Considering Figs. I to IV, inclusive, it will be seen that if the handle 20 is actuated to lift the rod 15 the diaphragm valve 12 will be lifted from the valve seat 7. This will force the water out of the chamber formed by the casing 10 and the diaphragm valve 12 through the siphon 21, completely filling the siphon so as to start it running. The action of the siphon in drawing the water out of the chamber formed by the casing 10 and the diaphragm valve 12, will make the pressure within said chamber less than the pressure without so that the diaphragm valve 12 will be held up against the top of the casing until the tank is completely emptied, when it will drop of its own weight. It will also be apparent that if the water in the tank rises above the top of the siphon so that the siphon is filled with water, it will start running and draw the water out of the chamber within the casing 10 and will thus automatically lift the diaphragm valve 12 and empty the tank. It will thus be seen that if the float 5 controlling the supply valve 4 is omitted so as to allow the tank to fill to a height above the top of the siphon the siphon will become automatic in its action. The overflow pipe 22 is auxiliary in its nature, as in on se the valve and siphon work properly the tank will be automatically emptied after it fills to a certain point so that he valve itself takes the place of the ore :ow pipe. In many cases however it is able to provide'an overflow pipe as an Zonal safeguard against the overflow of the tank in case the valve refuses to work. The tip of the refill pipe 24: extends into the top of the overflow pipe 22 so that the water for refilling the bowl flows through the overilow pipe and the arm 24 down into the bowl.

In setting flush tank valves in place it is the custom of plumbers to set the float in the tank so that the water will rise almost to the top of the overflow pipe 22. For this reason the form shown in Figs. I to IV, inelusive, is my preferred form, because with this form of the device the plumbers will set the float so that the water will not rise high enough to completely fill the siphon and the "valve will be a manually operable valve. However, if it is desired to set it so as to work automatically it can readily be done by omitting the float so as to allow the water in the tank to rise and completely fill the siphon.

The valve shown in Figs. V and VI, is the same as the one shown in Figs. I to IV, inclusive, with the exception, that the siphon rises above the top of the overflow pipe and hence the water in the tank will never rise so as to automatically start the siphon running unless the overflow pipe should. be stopped up.

The valve shown in Fi s. VII and VIII is the same in principle and operation as that shown in the preceding forms with the exception that the overflow pipe is omitted and it depends on the automatic operation. of the valve to prevent overflow. This valve may be set for manual. operation only by setting the float so that the water in the tank will not rise sufliciently to completely fill the siphon,

in which case the valve will be operated only when the rod 15 is lifted. However, if the float in the tank is omitted or set so that the water will rise and completely fill the siphon, the valve will be automatically operated as often as the tank is filled to that point.

The valve shown in Figs. IX and X is the same in principle and operation as that shown in the preceding forms, except that it is an entirely automatic valve, the rod 1.5 for manually actuating the diaphragm valve being omitted. This valve is especially adapted for use in public places where it is desired to actuate the valve at regular intervals, and by means of this construction the valve will be actuated as often as the tank is lilled to such a point as to completely fill the siphon with water.

I am aware that the particular embodiments which I have here shown are susceptible of considerablevariation without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore do not wish to be restricted to the same. However, I have found that the particular embodiments I have here shown are to be preferred and, therefore, I desire to claim the same specifically, as well as broadly, as indicated by my appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a valve of the class described, the combination of an outlet connection having a valve seat, a ring integral with said outlet connection, discharge openings between said ring and said valve seat, an arm extending from said outlet connection and having a discharge passage therein opening into said outlet connection beneath said valve seat, a chamber having a restricted inlet supported on said ring, an overflow pipe carried by said arm the lower end of said overflow pipe opening into the discharge passage, a siphon extending upwardly from said chamber and passing through the side wall of said overflow pipe near the top thereof, the discharge leg of said siphon extending downwardly within said overflow pipe to a point near the bottom thereof, a diaphragm valve forming the bottom wall of said chamber and normally engaging said valve seat, said valve comprising a diaphragm, a disk disposed above said diaphragm and a disk disposed beneath said diaphragm, a rod passing through said disks and said diaphragm, nuts threaded on said rod for clamping said (lL s to said diaphragm, said rod passing through to top of said chamber, and means for lifting said rod, all coacting snbstantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a valve of the class described, the combination of an outlet connection having a valve seat, a suitably supported chamber having a restricted inlet opening, an arm extending from said outlet connection and having a discharge passage therein opening into said outlet connection beneath said valve seat, an overflow pipe carried by said arm, the lower end of said overflow pipe opening into said discharge passage, a siphon extending upwardly from said chamber and passing through the side wall of said overflow pipe at a point near the top thereof, the discharge leg of said siphon extending downwardly within said over: flow pipe to a point near the bottom thereof, a diaphragm valve forming the bottom wall of said chamber and normally engaging said valve seat, said valve comprising a diaphragm, disks disposed above and below said diaphragm, a rod passing through said disks and said diaphragm, nuts threaded on said .rod and clamping said disks. to said diaphragm, and means for lifting said rod, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

3. In a valve of the class described, the combination of an outlet connection having a valve seat, a suitably supported chamber having a restricted inlet opening, an arm extending from said outlet connection and having a discharge passage therein opening into said outlet connection beneath said valve seat, an overflow pipe carried by said arm, the lower end of said overflow pipe opening into said discharge passage, a siphon extending upwardly from said chamher and passing through the side wall of said overflow pipe, the discharge limb of said siphon extending downwardly within said overflow pipe to a point near the bottom thereof, a diaphragm valve forming the bottom wall of said chamber and normally engaging said valve seat, and means for lifting said diaphragm valve, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

l. In a valve of the class described, the combination of an outlet connection having a valve seat, an arm extending from said outlet connection and having a discharge passage therein opening into said outlet connection beneath said valve seat, a suitably supported chamber having a restricted inlet opening, an overflow pipe carried by said arm and having its lower end opening into said discharge passage, a siphon extending upwardly from said chamber, the discharge leg of said siphon extending downwardly in said overflow pipe to a point near the bottom thereof, a diaphragm valve 'l'orming the bottom wallof said chamber and normally engaging said valve seat, and means for lifting said diaphragm valve, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

In a valve of the class described, the

combination of an outlet connection having a valve seat, an arm extending from said outlet connection and provided. With a discharge passage therein opening into said outlet connection beneath said valve seat, a suitably supported chamber havlng a restricted inlet opening, a siphon extending upwardly from said chamber and having the discharge leg thereof communicating with said discharge passage, a diaphragm valve forming the bottom Wall of said chamber and normally engaging said valve seat, and means for lifting said diaphragm valve, all coaeting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

6. In a valve of the class described, the combination of an outlet connection having a valve seat, a suitably supported chamber having a restricted inlet opening, a siphon extending upwardly from said chamber and having the discharge leg thereof depending entirely outside of said chamber and fixed relative thereto, a diaphragm valve forming the bottom wall of said chamber and normally engaging said valve seat, and means for lifting said diaphragm valve, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

7. In a valve of the class described, the combination of an outlet connection having a valve seat, an arm extending from said outlet connection and having a discharge passage therein opening into said outlet connection beneath said valve seat, a suitably supported chamber having a restricted inlet opening, a siphon extending upwardly from said chamber, and having the discharge leg thereof connected to said dis charge passage said arm, and the intake leg thereof communicating With said chamber, and a diaphragm valve forming the bottom Wall of said chamber and normally coacting substantially as described for the.

purpose specified.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses. CARL H. Z /VERMANN. llitnesses C. B. Des JARDINs, M. L. GLASGOW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

